EVALUATION OF BIO-AGENTS FOR CONTROLLING FRUIT ROT/ ANTHRACNOSE OF BANANA CAUSED BY COLLETOTRICHUM GLOEOSPORIOIDES IN-VITRO CONDITION

Abstract

The effects of bio-agents on pathogenicity of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and its potential to control fruit rot diseases of banana were determined. Addition of bio-agents reduced radial growth, spore production, spore germination and appressoria production of C. gloeosporioides, in vitro by dual culture technique method. Among three bio-agents viz., Trichoderma viride (RAU, Pusa and New Delhi isolate), Trichoderma harzianum (Pusa and New Delhi isolate) and Trichoderma virens (RAU, Pusa isolate and New Delhi isolate), the Pusa isolate was significantly superior to New Delhi isolate. In case of Pusa isolate of T. viride, T. harzianum and T. virens, the radial growth of C. gloeosporioides were 19.7, 19.3 and 20.7 mm, respectively whereas New Delhi isolates T. viride, T. harzianum and T. virens produced 28.7 mm, 24.7 mm and 22.3mm radial growth, of the test fungus, respectively. T. harzianum (RAU, Pusa isolate) was found to be best to inhibit the radial growth (19.3mm) of C. gloeosporioides. It was closely followed by T. viride (19.7mm) of RAU, Pusa isolate. The cultural filtrate of these bioagents was less effective in inhibiting the conidial germination and length of germ tube of C. gloeosporioides.